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Since 1996, JavaScript: The Definitive Guide has been the bible for JavaScript programmers—a programmer's guide and comprehensive reference to the core language and to the client-side JavaScript APIs defined by web browsers.

The 6th edition covers HTML5 and ECMAScript 5. Many chapters have been completely rewritten to bring them in line with today's best web development practices. New chapters in this edition document jQuery and server side JavaScript. It's recommended for experienced programmers who want to learn the programming language of the Web, and for current JavaScript programmers who want to master it.

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Product Description

Since 1996, JavaScript: The Definitive Guide has been the bible for JavaScript programmers—a programmer's guide and comprehensive reference to the core language and to the client-side JavaScript APIs defined by web browsers.

The 6th edition covers HTML5 and ECMAScript 5. Many chapters have been completely rewritten to bring them in line with today's best web development practices. New chapters in this edition document jQuery and server side JavaScript. It's recommended for experienced programmers who want to learn the programming language of the Web, and for current JavaScript programmers who want to master it.

Most helpful customer reviews on Amazon.com

Amazon.com:
4.4 out of 5 stars
185 reviews

Charlie

5.0 out of 5 starsFor those doubting a book is better than what can be found online

26 April 2012 - Published on Amazon.com

Verified Purchase

I simply wanted to say how much David's book has meant to my learning and understanding of Javascript, and programming in general. I had initially tried learning through many free sources online, and while most were very good in tackling specific issues or illustrating solutions to esoteric problems, none gave me the confidence that I was getting a solid foundation in the language, or programming in general.

In search of something better, I looked to stackoverflow which constantly recommended David's book. To be honest, I pirated it first. But after the first 3 chapters I went straight to Amazon and bought it, as well as Javascript Patters from Stoyan and Douglas's Crockford book Javascript: the good parts (another big hit on the stackoverflow forums). I was dumbfounded at how easy and clear his book made the language. For the first time, ideas were presented in a logical order, with concepts obviously introduced to build on previous ones. Concepts I've been told are essential (hoisting, closures, etc) but were intimidating because I'd never seen them in a cohesive narrative, shocked me in how intuitive they actually were when written well and paired with succinct examples.

I know this all seems overzealous enough to border on the insincere, but for someone who always had a passion for technology and wanted to create his own, but was beginning to be deterred from it all because I thought it was simply above my grasp, I want to say thank you to David and O'Reilly.

They very may well have single-handedly created a new developer, and have dramatically changed my life in the process.

5.0 out of 5 starsI would say I feel so good after reading it and have more confidence in talking ...

8 September 2016 - Published on Amazon.com

Verified Purchase

I spent one month finishing reading this book. I would say I feel so good after reading it and have more confidence in talking about Javascript as a programming language (not as a tool). Before this book, I also read "Beginning to Javascript", so I had certain preparation to read this heavy-content book. "Beginning to Javascript" teaches me to use JavaScript as a tool and I can quickly building something in JS after reading it. But this book is different, it fulfills my needs to learn and know JavaScript as a programming language that worths certain respect.

If you think that this book is full of theory but no practice so it does not worth a read, I have nothing to say as different programmer learn to program and know about programming languages in different ways. This book is for those who want to know more about JavaScript and get inspired.

I've been a professional web developer for 18 years and have always read every JavaScript book, blog, post and ebook I could find. A junior web developer on staff asked me if I could recommend a good JavaScript book. I recommended Maintainable JavaScript by Nicholas Zakas, JavaScript Patterns by Stoyan Stefanov and this David Flanagan gem as the first priority and gave it as a welcome aboard gift. I don't care how good at Googling JavaScript questions you are, if you read this book cover to cover, you'll keep thinking, "I didn't know you could do that!" I highly recommend it to web devs of any level.

4.0 out of 5 starsStructure isn't very intuitive but very great reference.

24 January 2014 - Published on Amazon.com

Verified Purchase

I am very familiar with O'Reilly books and have quite an extensive collection. So I have gotten used to the general writing style and layout of most of their books despite almost every book being written by a different author.

This book however, despite on the back stating "Prior Programming Experience Recommended", proceeds for most of the book explaining things that someone with prior experience should already know. Also, if you plan on reading this book in a linear fashion to learn JS and avoid missing something by skipping around in the book, you might get very frustrated like I did.

The author explains subjects and gives examples and then many times right afterwards says something similar to "This example contains code or functions that will be explained in a later section."

Also, many people will be buying this guide to do Client-Side JS...ie. in a browser on a webpage. This book doesn't get to that until almost halfway through the book...like 300 pages.

Despite these flaws, the book is EXTREMELY comprehensive. Certainly something to keep on your desk or readily handy if you program in JS often.